Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has joined New Zealand’s support staff for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan in India. The Blackcaps have also hired Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Rangana Herath as a spin bowling coach for the upcoming contest. The game will be played from September 9 in Great Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Rathour represented India in six Tests and seven ODIs and also worked as the national selector of the men’s team. He was the batting coach of the India National Cricket Team during Rahul Dravid’s stint as head coach and played a role in the Men in Blue’s triumph in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He is expected to help the Kiwi batters get used to Indian conditions as they also have a three-match Test series against India.
Hearth was brought to replace Saqlain Mushtaq, who left the job to take up a new role with the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB).
Playing for Sri Lanka, Herath took 433 Test wickets. He will remain with the New Zealand team even for the two Test matches against Sri Lanka.
“Players want to learn from Vikram Rathour and Rangana Herath”: New Zealand coach Gary Stead
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has welcomed the move to add Vikram Rathour and Rangana Herath to the coaching staff.
“We welcome Vikram Rathour and Rangana Herath to the Test team. Both of them are renowned names in the world of cricket, and our players are looking forward to learning from them.
“Our three spinners, Ajaz, Mitch, and Rachin, will get a lot of inputs from Rangana. He has taken a lot of wickets in the sub-continent, and his knowledge of wickets in Sri Lanka will also help us when we play against them.”
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